Breast Implants Problems and Risks

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There are a percentage of patients that experience common problems related to their breast implants. These breast implant problems can occur with saline or silicone gel implants. Some potential complications can include:

• Asymmetry
• Breast pain
• Breast tissue atrophy
• Calcification/calcium deposits
• Capsular contracture
• Chest wall deformity
• Delayed wound healing
• Extrusion

• Galactorrhea
• Granuloma
• Hematoma
• Iatrogenic injury/damage
• Infection
• Inflammation/irritation
• Malposition/displacement
• Necrosis

• Nipple/breast changes
• Palpability/visibility
• Ptosis
• Redness/bruising
• Rupture/deflation
• Scarring
• Seroma
• Unsatisfactory style/size
• Wrinkling/rippling

The most common problems that can occur with both silicone gel filled and saline filled breast implants are Capsule contracture, Rupture/Deflation, Reoperations, and Removals.

We offer the least invasive method of breast reconstruction to remedy implant problems. We will not replace the implant, but rather use your own fat for grafting to recreate a natural feeling breast with the benefit of liposuction. The technique is explained in our Breast Reconstruction page.

Capsule Contracture

Capsule contracture, the most common complication of breast augmentation surgery, can happen at any time. It occurs when the scar tissue or capsule that normally forms around the implant tightens and squeezes the implant. It can happen to one or both of the implants. The body naturally shrinks scar tissue somewhat. In some cases, the capsule will tighten, and squeeze the implant. This makes the breast implant feel hard, and distorts the appearance of the breast.

Causes of capsular contracture are implants placed above the muscle, infections, seroma, hematoma, and smoking. There are four grades of capsular contracture known as Baker grades. The Baker grading is as follows:

• Grade I breast is normally soft and looks natural
• Grade II breast is a little firm but looks normal

• Grade III breast is firm and looks abnormal
• Grade IV breast is hard, painful, and looks abnormal

Rupture/Deflation

Breast implants manufacturers acknowledge and warn that breast implants are not lifetime products, they have a “shelf life”. Some implants may rupture or deflate within a few months or take several years.

Ruptured saline implants will usually deflate quickly. Silicone gel leak or rupture can sometimes go unnoticed, even for a period of years. Symptoms may include: decreased breast size, uneven size of breasts, pain or tenderness, tingling, swelling, numbness, burning, changes in sensation, lumps. The longer an implant has been placed the higher the risk. Some of the causes are:

• normal aging of the implant
• too much handling during surgery
• compression during a mammogram
• capsular contracture
• overfilling or underfilling of saline-filled implants

• placement through a belly button
• damage by surgical instruments
• damage during procedures to the breast
• stresses like trauma or intense physical pressure

These ruptured implants should be removed as soon as possible, especially if it is a silicone gel implant. Silicone gel can leak from the implant into healthy breast tissue and go other parts of your body, such as the lungs and lymph nodes, where it could be impossible to remove.

Reoperation

Breast implants require maintenance and its likely to have a reoperation due to breast implant complications to one of the above mentioned problems. A reoperation will be to fix a current problem or replace a bad implant.

Removal

Removal of breast implants may result from severe complications where the only choice is the removal of implants. Removal will also occur from simple replacement of an old implant. If patient decides not to replace the old with the new, an undesired appearance will result such as sagging, dimpling, and puckering of the breast.